Wellspring House

Inspired formally by local limestone formations such as Hamilton Pool Preserve and cenotes found throughout the southwestern US and Mexico, the Wellspring House eschews the book-ended, flat hilltop for a challenging hillside location. Entering the site, the house slowly materializes in parallel with downtown views. Water guides visitors from the top entrance to the public, entertaining areas down through the pool level and culminates in the private bedrooms.

Functionally, the house is intended to act as an instrument for viewing the landscape. Long vistas over the pool draw the eye to the Texas Hill Country beyond while the master bedroom and bath frame views of downtown. Intimate spaces are centered around the oculus.

The garage and guest-wing of the house are covered by a green roof, serving to help protect the local ecosystem.

South Fifth Street

Designed for entertaining around a large pool, this Bouldin neighborhood home features a second-floor wet bar and balconies overlooking the corner of South Fifth Street.

Alligator Creek

Located on a 60-acre prairie preserve near Taylor, TX, Alligator Creek is a completely off-grid house producing 100% of required power through solar panels and collecting rainwater for all potable water needs. With the building footprint minimized, the remaining site is being reclaimed as natural habitat by eliminating invasive species. Drawing inspiration from Texas vernacular construction and Japanese architecture, the design is reminiscent of a farmhouse with Japanese-style bays. This project contains an 18,000-gallon cistern integrated into the foundation, on-site wastewater management, and SIP (Structural Insulated Panel) roofing. The house is naturally ventilated with operable windows that capture prevailing winds for passive cooling and utilizes wood burning stoves for heating.

Cardinal

Rockingham

Rockingham's modern design was derived from the topography of the site and the large protected oaks on the property. The open concept of communal spaces and natural light, creates a cohesive transition to the screened-in porch with its double height ceiling. Exterior materials consists of stucco, metal siding, and locally sourced cedar.

Location: Austin, TexasYear: 2016

Milton Street

The creative configuration of buildings on this urban infill lot provides housing for three generations. The duplex was built for the parents, while the owner and her young son live behind the duplex in an Airstream trailer. Both units feel larger because of abundant natural light and generous screened porches.

14th Street 1

Once an empty lot, now transformed into a Swedish Barn Style duplex. Each unit has their own private yard and double height ceilings to allow natural light to take over the spaces within. The contrasting exterior color pallet of white and stained cedar creates an elegant and modern look.

Location: Austin, TexasYear: 2014

Marcy

With a majestic lot overlooking downtown Austin, a permeable strategy was employed for this multifamily complex. By dematerializing the house, not only are there more unobstructed views of the city, but passive cooling and natural light are allowed to penetrate deeper into spaces. Flower and vegetable gardens occupy the resultant outdoor ground level spaces while a shaded roof deck makes al fresco dining or quiet reading possible.

Location: Austin, TexasYear: Unbuilt

Westview

This project unifies a 1940s house with a late-1980s addition to the rear by adding a second story that is open to the original house below. Consistent structure and space allow the house to become less compartmentalized and more efficient. High ceilings and clerestory windows contribute to passive cooling. Inspired by the client’s Asian art and antique collection, the design includes gallery space and a second-floor pedestrian bridge leading to the terraced landscape behind the house.

Location: Austin, TexasYear: 2013

Mariposa

Remodeled home into a modern, open layout living space made suitable for entertaining guests. The kitchen walls were removed, opening into the living room, making a cohesive transition from one space to the next. New flooring throughout the home creates a uniformed look that compliments the original layout of the split level structure. A pool was added to the back yard along with landscaping, making the outdoor space an exceptional space for entertainment and relaxation.

Location: Austin, TexasYear: 2014

10th Street

This project involved the remodeling of a 1940s bungalow in East Austin. The project added approximately 600 sq ft to the house while maintaining the existing footprint and envelope by vaulting the ceiling and creating usable loft space. Existing shiplap walls are exposed as a striking design feature on the central load-bearing wall. Refinished longleaf pine floors and new concrete countertops provide elegant but affordable finishes. The remodel included improving the thermal performance of the house to meet modern efficiency standards.

Location: Austin, TexasYear: 2008

Canterbury

This sustainable Modern Urban Residence sits on a corner lot with a historic moontower. Keeping the existing frame of the main house, the interior was renovated into an open floor plan. 800 square feet was added by creating a second story with vaulted ceilings to open up the spaces and clerestory windows for added natural lighting. The look transcends to the Accessory Dwelling Unit which has its own yard and functions as an independent unit. The carved out cedar porches and a contrasting color pallets creates a Nordic Modern look with cohesive design.

Location: Austin, Texas

Year:2015

Casa Brasher

Limiting site constraints dictated many of the design decisions for this courtyard house. A pool is woven between two wings of the house, acting more like an outdoor room than an object in the landscape. The muxarabi entrance door defines the threshold into the private, secluded world of the inner court. Large glass patio doors in the living room borrow space from the exterior to give this modest sized house a substantially larger feel. A balcony off the master bedroom overlooks the pool and courtyard.

Location: Austin, TexasYear: Unbuilt

Embouldin

A second story geometric volume spans two ground floor cubes resulting in a 28’ clear span veranda. Perfect for al fresco dining or taking a respite from the hot Texas sun beside the pool, this area blurs the distinction between indoor and outdoor spaces. An iridescent stainless steel entry offers a nod to the wild peacocks roaming the neighborhood. Large, strategically placed glass openings allow light in while providing privacy between the main and guest house.